Mourner’s Kaddish

After we say the Mourner’s Kaddish in Aramaic, we say this piece, by Elliott batTzedek. It’s a sound-based translation of the original – that is, the translation is based on capturing the sound and rhythm of the original, not its literal meaning.

Ariana Katz interviewed Elliott about the mourner’s kaddish for her Kaddish podcast. You can listen to it here or read the transcript here.

Mourner’s Kaddish
Elliott batTzedek

So often am I lost,

yet through the pall, yet through the tarnish, show me the way back,
through my betrayals, my dismay, my heart’s leak, my mind’s sway,
eyes’ broken glow, groan of the soul—which convey all that isn’t real,
for every soul to These Hands careen. And let us say, amen.

Say you will show me the way back, my Rock, my Alarm. Lead the way, Oh my Yah

And yet in shock and yet in shame and yet in awe and yet to roam and yet to stay
and yet right here and yet away and yet —“Halleluyah!” my heartbeat speaks, for You
live in all this murk and too in the clear and too in our wreckage.
You are the mirror of our souls, let us say: amen

Life may harm me, rob me, ream me raw, try me, even slay me
Over all You will prevail. And let us say: Amen

Say You shall loan me a tomorrow, Say You shall loan another day to all who are called Yisrael and all called Yishmael and all called We and They, and let us say, Amen